"On this night we celebrate another victory."
I announced to all the heroes attending the banquet.
The raiders of the Raid Team and the supporters of our climb endeavor.
"Another Quintal Trial challenged, another Quintal Trial won.
"Even though the third Quintal Trial was cleared only by Party 1, the victory was achieved through the hard work done by everyone in the lobby.
"Thanks to the effort of everyone here, we, Master Sigyn's army of heroes, have conquered fifteen floors of the Tower of Trials!"
I threw my gaze to all the people in the grand banquet hall with me.
Everyone was seated at the extravagant long tables provided with the greatest feast the lobby had ever seen.
The entire menu was designed by Master Sigyn. They even provided special food and beverage that our kitchen could not possibly produce with the resources available at the moment.
Sigyn must had been very happy with our achievement on the third Quintal Trial.
"Party 1 survived and conquered the fifteenth floor because of the equipment created by the crafters in the workshops.
"Party 1 survived and conquered the fifteenth floor because of the potions made by the brewers in the magic hall.
"Party 1 survived and conquered the fifteenth floor because of the precious resources collected by the gatherers in the Weekday Dungeons.
"Party 1 survived and conquered the fifteenth floor because of the intense training given by the other raiders and the combatant trainees.
"Party 1 survived and conquered the fifteenth floor because of the rejuvenating services provided by the servants and the cooks which helped us endure our difficult days."
I walked around the dining hall, treading the floor among the attendees.
"Be proud! For you have contributed in our victory.
"No matter your role in the lobby, you are a Raider of the Tower. For you had a hand in our successful climb.
"Either combatants, crafters, gatherers, cooks, and servants…you are all Heroes of the Forged Land."
Upon my remark, Zecht raised his chalice filled with fine wine and shouted with a firm voice.
"To the Raiders of the Tower!"
In response, everyone in the banquet hall raised their cups and cheered.
"To the Raiders of the Tower!"
Darius now raised his chalice.
"To the Heroes of the Forged Land!"
"To the Heroes of the Forged Land!"
Everyone roared in unison.
Differ to my attitude toward the tenth floor's celebration, I decided to put on a dramatic performance for this banquet.
It was the Vice-Master's duty to raise and maintain morale of our army.
There were many things in the forged land that could discourage us.
We best take every opportunity to keep our spirits up.
"Tomorrow we will begin the preparation for our journey toward the twentieth floor."
I addressed the hall, which soon quieted down upon my words.
I then raised my chalice and declared resoundingly.
"But tonight, we shall feast. Let the banquet commence!"
The celebration musicians began playing their instruments and the entire hall was soon filled with the bustle of festivities.
If I were just an attendee, I would finish my plate quickly and return to the magic hall to continue working.
But I attended the banquet as a Vice-Master.
It would not be proper if I were to excuse myself immediately from the celebration.
As such, I spent my time going from table to table, thanking the workers for their help during our fifteenth floor climb.
I told the crafters how useful the enchanted rings and all the weapons they made.
The gatherers were well informed of how the resources they gathered were crucial in creating the magic golems and antidotes which greatly helped us survive the fifteenth floor.
I mentioned to the servants and cooks their services in the days leading up to our Quintal Trial deployment helped us be physically ready for the mission.
I personally thanked the chiefs, the depository managers, and Jansen the herbalist for their great assistance.
Lastly, I made my way around the dining hall, telling the members of the Raid Team that our nightly strategy meetings helped us clearing the mission.
"Were you truly just a shepherd before you arrived here?"
One of the Tchakran warriors asked Jonah.
They and the other advanced heroes had finished watching the Quintal Trial records when we were about to begin the banquet.
"The only battle I ever done back home was when I tried to chase off a couple of wolves that tried to hunt my flock."
Jonah replied humbly.
Haoban's eyes widened in disbelief.
"But you moved like a master in those trials! You and that swordswoman!"
"Lady Shanny, where did you learn how to wield your sword so swift and powerful like that? Did you meet a wandering hermit in the empire and train under them?"
Fangli asked the former maid, who was now wearing a new luxurious violet dress Master gifted her after the fifteenth floor's clearance.
The chestnut-haired woman chuckled at his questions, putting a frilly fan over her lips in an attempt to act shy.
"All I did back home were washing laundries and cleaning bedrooms. The first time I held a sword was when I arrived here."
"Astounding!"
The Tchakran warriors reacted with bewildered expressions.
Seeing the new 3-stars, however, reminded me of a Vice-Master agenda I slipped into the banquet.
I caught sight of Pavarin and went to him.
"Have you fetched them?"
"We haven't managed to reach Sir Laogang. But the rest are waiting for you in the sitting room next door as you requested, Your Excellency."
I nodded to the Chief Servant.
"I'll get Yuxia. Just make sure nobody bothers us."
"As you wish, Your Excellency."
I made my way to the center of the banquet hall where a huge crowd had gathered.
At the middle of them all stood Yuxia.
The eastern elementalist was putting on a flashy performance for the attendees. Casting moving animal shapes in the air using fire magic.
Tricky in the casting process, but simple in sorcery design and magical force. Barely a First Circle spell.
Vallerynne told me Yuxia was part of a performance troupe in Lantern City and that these basic conjurations were the main attraction.
I once went to that particular Grand City, actually, and had heard of a famous troupe residing there.
But apparently the troupe was on a tour in another province when I was there.
It was funny that Yuxia and I almost encountered each other before arriving to the forged land.
Knowing he was part of a performance troupe also gave me an insight as to why a mage of his tremendous talent became a wildling.
"Yuxia, come with me!"
I called the eastern man from outside the crowd.
The attendees soon noticed me and they immediately parted to give way, all while bowing and curtseying.
"Oh come on, Serafina! I'm still on the opening act! I haven't shown them my masterpiece yet!"
The elementalist cried.
"You can continue performing later. The sooner you come with me, the sooner you can return."
The pretty man grunted upon my words and dispelled his conjurations.
"Grhh! Let's be quick about it then!"
He said to me while storming down the hall.
The two of us then left the festivities and crossed a silent corridor outside.
We entered a sitting room just next to the banquet hall where three people were already waiting for us.
A spirited woman with thick silver hair like a lion's mane. A very short elderly man. And an unkempt man with raven dark hair and violet eyes.
Ulrica the Guntur Near-Kin.
Djhotti the dwarf.
Graihan the lycanthrope.
Together with Yuxia and I, the five of us occupied the sitting room.
We all had one thing in common in the lobby.
A trait that differentiated us from the rest of the heroes in Sigyn's army.
"We need to talk about the reason we were summoned here."
I told them.
All of us were 4-star heroes.
The only ones so far who remembered why they came to the forged land.